While dining with my niece and her family a few weeks ago, I watched my great-niece eat a noodle. She observed it, felt it, tasted it. She painted some on her bib and in her hair. As we chatted, she sang and talked to her noodle. She engaged with that noodle in every possible way. She was also ‘chatting’ along with us. Talk about a sensory encounter!

My great niece has this uncluttered freedom that I admire very much. (It’s wonderfully common in the 1.5 year old demographic.) Using my Alexander Technique know-how lets me get some of that freedom for myself:

• I can enter a listening, curious state rather than a “just let me get through this so I can get to the next thing” state.
• If I don’t rush, I don’t tighten.
• I don’t have to hold myself up, I can rest on whatever’s supporting me.
• I can orient my attention outward into the environment surrounding me.
• I can find a state of flow that makes me available to move.
• If I’m holding or moving something, I can ask it, “how would you like to move?”

So much easier! And my posture can look like hers! 

What happens when you exit the rush mode and enter the curious, receptive state?

Do tell!

And speaking of connecting to your environment, here’s something to help you do that better:

Many of my students know that I’ve been very excited since one of my super-savvy students clued me into the goldmine of information at www.correcttoes.com.  A holistic sports podiatrist set out to rehabilitate and strengthen feet by developing products and procedures that encourage the natural toe splay and functional power of feet that have never been distorted and weakened by shoes. The site features a ton of articles, videos, podcasts about feet, how and why they go wrong and how to put them right through education, products and procedures that turn on their natural function and power.

Talk about foundational! The way your feet meet the ground and support you is a critical component in turning on your natural upright support. I’ve been getting great results from plugging in Alexander principles while using correcttoes in wide, flexible, zero-drop shoes and some of my students have been disentangling themselves from years of painful foot conditions. If you’re a student of Alexander Technique, upgrading your feet can enhance your ability to balance and coordinate yourself with freedom and springiness. And guess what, I’ve got an Alexander/Correcttoes special offer for August and September.

Questions / comments about your feet / overall balance? Let’s have them!